Sustainability at Hochschule Geisenheim University

Hochschule Geisenheim University aims to incorporate sustainability principles at all levels of the university's development process. For this purpose, the Strategic University Development and Sustainability department was established as a central coordination and steering unit. The department is responsible for implementing a holistic approach to sustainable development at the university – known as the ‘Whole Institution Approach’ – and defining sustainability goals. This is done transparently, with broad participation from members of the university and with the intention of strengthening and encouraging existing commitments. 

The Whole Institution Approach includes five areas of action: university administration/governance, operations, teaching & student affairs, research and knowledge transfer. Our goal is to make the entire university as resource-efficient as possible. 

The Green Office is the central contact point for shaping sustainable practices at the university, and works to raise awareness for holistic sustainability, foster the exchange of ideas, and get other university members involved.

Inspired by the 1987 Brundtland Report, Hochschule Geisenheim University defines sustainability and a sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. 

Our efforts to make the university more sustainable are guided by the integrated sustainability model, which categorises actions as sustainable if they can be implemented within the planet's boundaries (ecology) in a socially just (social) and economically efficient manner (economy). In addition, we are guided by the 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and the UNESCO program “Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs” (ESD for 2030).

Hochschule Geisenheim University is working towards a Fair Trade University certification, which is awarded by the “TransFair Association for the Promotion of Fair Trade in One World”. What started out as a student initiative has turned into a cross-university project group involving students, scientific and administrative members of staff as well as professors. The group is chaired by University President Prof. Hans Reiner Schultz.

The project group brings together interested members of the university, and communicates the topic both internally and externally. They organize initiatives and make sure that all requirements are met. But the group even wants to go one step further and raise awareness of subjects such as green production, sustainability, food waste and resource efficiency.